Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony at the University of Manitoba

The Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony (RRRC) involves returning Indigenous Ancestors and Belongings - that were taken and/or held by the university without consent - to First Nations, Inuit and Métis descendant communities.

artwork of a blue sky, green grass and white trees

Background

In late 2020, the Department of Anthropology at the University of Manitoba contacted Elders, Grandmothers, Grandfathers and Knowledge Keepers who work at UM to apologize; and to ask for their help and ongoing guidance and direction regarding Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation of Indigenous Ancestors and Belongings.

The group received the department's apology, and agreed to form the Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony Council (RRRC Council) to assist the university in this work.

RRRC Council gives guidance and directions

The RRRC Council gave directions on how to respectfully care for Ancestors while identification work is underway; and urged the university to return and rebury the Ancestors as quickly as possible. The Council also emphasized the need for the university to accept responsibility for its violent actions, commit to truth-telling and develop a university-wide repatriation policy.

Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation is Ceremony and the RRRC Council reminds us that this is also an opportunity for healing from colonial violence.

University of Manitoba's commitment to Indigenous descendant communities

The University of Manitoba is working through the process of Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation with descendant communities through on-going engagement with First Nation, Inuit and Métis leaders and Elders. 

First and foremost, UM is committed to maintaining open communication with descendant communities and will have more information to share with the wider community later this year.

 

Progress to date

Following guidance of the RRRC Council:

  • Appropriate protocols and care have been adopted, including moving all Ancestors to a temporary and private resting room until they can be returned and reburied;
  • engagements with descendant communities are ongoing, with repatriation and rematriation expected to begin Summer 2024;
  • truth-telling has begun through historical research and Indigenous artistic creation; including a timeline, documentary film and a historical novel;
  • a University of Manitoba policy on repatriation was written by a Working Circle comprised of Indigenous scholars, Indigenous community representatives and other UM community members. The final version is expected to be available later this year. Full policy to come.

Specific details are withheld at this time to respect the sovereignty and privacy of First Nations, Inuit and Métis descendant communities.

Staying in touch

If you would like to receive updates on the Respectful Rematriation and Repatriation Ceremony at UM, please sign up for the Indigenous Connect Newsletter.

You can also reach out directly to respectful.rematriation@umanitoba.ca­­­

Miigwech, Ekosi, Kinan’askomitin, Marsee, Pidamaya ye, Masi Cho, Qujannamiik, Nakurmiik for  listening.